Victoria Cider Co.

Just minutes from the Victoria airport and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, Victoria Cider Co. is a family-owned cidery, orchard and tasting room set among the gentle farmland of North Saanich. The ciders here start in the company's own orchard, where premium English and French cider-apple varieties are grown, hand-harvested and pressed with the help of family and friends - a hands-on, estate approach that gives the cider real authenticity and a true sense of place. The tasting room is built for lingering. You can settle in with indoor or outdoor seating, then wander out to the scenic picnic area that looks across the surrounding farmland. It's a relaxed, welcoming spot that happily accommodates friends, family, kids and dogs, with cornhole and Jenga on hand to keep the afternoon easy and fun. To round out the experience, build your own picnic from a curated selection of charcuterie and local delights, and stretch a tasting into a proper afternoon in the countryside. The Saanich Peninsula setting makes Victoria Cider Co. especially easy to fold into a day of exploring, whether you're arriving by ferry, heading to or from the airport, or touring the peninsula's wineries, farms and seaside towns. Its convenient location means you can fit a relaxed cider tasting into even a tight itinerary without straying far from the main routes. Open select days through the week and on holiday Mondays, it's an inviting place to slow down, soak up the rural views and discover how local apples become characterful craft cider. Whether you're a dedicated cider fan or simply after a laid-back, family-friendly afternoon close to Victoria, this orchard tasting room delivers a genuinely warm island welcome.